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Mass grave unearthed in recaptured Palmyra

Syrian army uncovers a mass grave as it tries to secure Palmyra
A Syrian soldier walks past the remains of a statue in a heavily damaged street in Palmyra on 31 March (AFP)

The Syrian army has found a mass grave containing the bodies of 42 civilians and soldiers executed by the Islamic State group in Palmyra, a military source has said.

"The Syrian army [on Friday] ... uncovered a mass grave of officers, soldiers, members of the popular committees and their relatives," the source told AFP on Saturday, adding that 24 of the victims were civilians.

The Syrian state news agency SANA reported that at least 40 bodies had been discovered, many of which showed signs of torture or had been beheaded.

Syrian forces reclaimed Palmyra from IS at the end of March. The group had seized control of the city in May 2015.

It is thought that IS members killed at least 400 people in Palmyra in May 2015, SANA reported.

Army engineering groups are still clearing the area of landmines and IEDs left behind by IS as they retreated.

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